5 Location-based Social Networks For Business Marketing

Location-based social networks like Yelp have been around for quite some time, however with internet giants like Google and Facebook getting into the arena, they have recently become the latest thing in the rapidly developing social media interaction. Location based social networking sites allow users to share their current location with their networks. They also write their reviews of the location they are in and share with their network.
This could be a really powerful tool when leveraged in a way that keeps people coming back.

Google Places:

This is a tool that allows users who are signed into Google Places, review and share their reviews with their network. What is so great about Google Places is that when anyone on that network conducts a Google search on anything related to the review, that review is very likely to come up in the search.

Foursquare:

This is one of the major location based social networks on the internet and its special reward system is well worth taking another look at. Foursquare awards points to its users based on how often they check in and the user that checks in the most in a particular location becomes the Mayor of that place. When there are incentives attached to a particular location, more people vie for the position of ‘Mayor’ and you have more people checking in to that location. This in turn helps to spread the word about the business.

Gowalla:

Gowalla is quite similar to Foursquare in the way it works and operates the same reward system that Foursquare does. It is also the major competitor.

Facebook:

Facebook recently launched ‘Places’ which allows users to share their locations. The shared location automatically goes to the user’s Facebook wall. This information is also made available to marketers unless the user chooses not to by modifying the privacy status.

Yelp:

Yelp was founded in 2004 and was more of a business review site than anything else until quite recently when it added the “check-in-offers” feature. This allows businesses to offer rewards to users with the highest check-ins to their venues.
Optimal use of the check-in-offers and reward system employed by location-based social networks will do a lot for the exposure of your business if you have a physical location. Even if you are an online or home business and have no physical location, it is possible to partner with a business that has a physical location to offer rewards.

By: Vic Lahure

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New Online Marketing Business Model not only educates but creates online success. To take a look into this New Online System follow through to www.MeetVicLahure.com/Work-With-Me www.ASuccessfulEntrepreneur.com Vic Lahure "Internet Success Coach" "Helping Average People Become Successful" email:viclahure@gmail.com